Country

Crash of an IAI-1124A Westwind II off Norfolk Island

Date & Time: Nov 18, 2009 at 2156 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VH-NGA
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Apia - Norfolk Island - Melbourne
MSN:
387
YOM:
1983
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
3596
Captain / Total hours on type:
923.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1954
Copilot / Total hours on type:
649
Aircraft flight hours:
21528
Aircraft flight cycles:
11867
Circumstances:
On 18 November 2009, the flight crew of an Israel Aircraft Industries Westwind 1124A aircraft, registered VH-NGA, was attempting a night approach and landing at Norfolk Island on an aeromedical flight from Apia, Samoa. On board were the pilot in command and copilot, and a doctor, nurse, patient and one passenger. On arrival, weather conditions prevented the crew from seeing the runway or its visual aids and therefore from landing. The pilot in command elected to ditch the aircraft in the sea before the aircraft’s fuel was exhausted. The aircraft broke in two after ditching. All the occupants escaped from the aircraft and were rescued by boat.
Probable cause:
The pilot in command did not plan the flight in accordance with the existing regulatory and operator requirements, precluding a full understanding and management of the potential hazards affecting the flight. The flight crew did not source the most recent Norfolk Island Airport forecast, or seek and apply other relevant weather and other information at the most relevant stage of the flight to fully inform their decision of whether to continue the flight to the island, or to divert to another destination. The flight crew’s delayed awareness of the deteriorating weather at Norfolk Island combined with incomplete flight planning to influence the decision to continue to the island, rather than divert to a suitable alternate.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Shrike Commander 500S off Norfolk Island: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 11, 1984
Operator:
Registration:
N9031N
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Pago Pago – Norfolk Island – Sydney
MSN:
500-1867-43
YOM:
1969
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Norfolk Island Airport, while climbing, the twin engine aircraft lost height and crashed into the sea. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 685 in the Bass Strait: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 17, 1983 at 1505 LT
Operator:
Registration:
VH-WJC
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Hobart - Melbourne
MSN:
685-12005
YOM:
1972
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
On 17 July 1983 the pilot of Rockwell (Aero Commander) 685 aircraft VH-WJC submitted a flight plan to the Hobart Briefing Office for a private category flight from Hobart to Moorabbin, tracking via Launceston and Wonthaggi. The plan indicated that the flight would be conducted under the Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) at Flight Level 120 (12 000 feet altitude on standard atmospheric pressure of 1013.2 millibars), with two persons on board. The flight plan showed that the aircraft had a fuel endurance of 220 minutes, and carried an Emergency Locator Beacon (ELB) and life jackets. There was no indication that a life raft was carried. The aircraft departed Hobart at 1352 hours and, thereafter, the pilot made the appropriate radio reports to Hobart Tower, Launceston Control and Launceston Tower. The flight apparently progressed normally until 1452 hours when the pilot advised Launceston Control, "Er Whiskey Juliet Charlie we seem to have been in trouble with er fuel here the red er warning light comes on and the gauge is down . . .".At 1454 hours the pilot transmitted a Mayday call, indicating that he was descending from Flight Level 120 on track to Bass (a position reporting point), present position was 85 nautical miles (nm) from Launceston and he would be making a controlled ditching. Launceston Control immediately initiated the Distress phase of the Search and Rescue procedures and advised the Melbourne Operational Control Centre (OCC). Further communications between the aircraft and Launceston Control indicated that the aircraft was continuing descent on track towards Wonthaggi. The last position report from the pilot, at 1500 hours, was 94 nm from Wonthaggi. The last recorded transmission from the aircraft was at 1501 hours when the pilot confirmed that there were two persons on board. There were no indications at any time from the pilot that the fuel supply had been exhausted or that either engine had failed. It was estimated that the aircraft ditched at about 1505 hours, at an approximate position of 81 nm from Wonthaggi on the planned track. No trace of the aircraft nor both occupants was found.
Probable cause:
Due to lack of evidences, the exact cause of the accident could not be determined.
Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson I into Bass Strait: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jul 6, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
A16-32
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Sale - Sale
MSN:
414-1883
YOM:
1940
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The aircraft took off at 1944LT to carry out practice DR9. This practice was a night flight from Base-Flinders-Currie-Hogan Group-Base. The aircraft was on wireless silence and failed to return. The maximum endurance of the aircraft was 7 hours. The aircraft failed to return and all searches have proved negative.
Crew:
P/O John James Bowman, pilot,
P/O Alan Joseph Malone, navigator,
P/O Harry Robert Alfred Guymer, wireless operator and air gunner,
P/O Alexander Frederick McDonald, wireless operator and air gunner,
P/O John Alexander Buchanan, air gunner.
Source: http://www.adf-gallery.com.au/

Crash of a Martin B-26 Marauder in Australia

Date & Time: Sep 30, 1942 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
40-1403
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
1403
YOM:
1940
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful mission and landing, crew evacuate the runway to rich his parking place. While rolling on taxiway, aircraft became uncontrollable, run down an embankment and came to rest in a ravine. All eight crew were uninjured as the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Lockheed 18-40-11 LodeStar off Queensland: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 14, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VH-CAD
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Townsville – Cooktown
MSN:
2109
YOM:
1941
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a flight from Townsville to Cooktownn when the twin engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea off Queensland. No trace of the aircraft nor the crew was ever found.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapide into the Bass Strait: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 29, 1942
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UXZ
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Melbourne - Flinders Island
MSN:
6365
YOM:
1937
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The aircraft christened 'Marika' was performing a schedule flight from Melbourne to the Flinders Island. En route, while cruising over the Bass Strait, an engine failed. The pilot attempted to ditch the aircraft that crashed into the sea and was lost. SAR operations were suspended after few days as no trace of the aircraft nor the occupant was found. An engine was eventually found fifty years later.
Probable cause:
Engine failure may be caused by fuel starvation.

Crash of a Douglas R3D-2 off Australia

Date & Time: Jan 31, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
1904
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
MSN:
609
YOM:
1940
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane was hit by a Japanese submarine and crashed on an island off Australia. Crew fate unknown.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.86 in Bass Strait: 11 killed

Date & Time: Oct 19, 1934
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VH-URN
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Launceston – Melbourne
MSN:
2301
YOM:
1934
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
While overflying Bass Strait, the four engine aircraft named 'Miss Hobart' crashed in unknown circumstances some 16 km off the coast of the Wilsons Promontory National Park. SAR teams found some debris and oil leak at the surface of the water a day later but no trace of the 11 occupants was ever found.
Crew:
Cpt Victor C. Holyman, pilot and cofounder of the airliner,
Cpt Gilbert Jenkins.
Probable cause:
The cause of the crash could not be determined. However, one of the recommendations made by the accident investigative commission was to prohibit the changing of pilots in an aircraft while in flight, since one theory into the disappearance of VH-URN pointed to a loss of control resulting from such action by the crew.